CADUCIBRANCHIATA. 87 



ish or light brownish, and the spots brown ; head in per- 

 pendicular longitudinal section nearly a perfect triangle, 

 in width equal to the body and not separable from it; 

 muzzle round; sphenoidal and vomerine teeth contiguous 

 at the anterior margin of the former, the latter continu- 

 ing outwardly to posterior of inner nares; eyes promi- 

 nent; nostrils minute: postorbital and parotid grooves 

 indistinct: gular fold strongly marked; costal furrows 

 fourteen to sixteen; tail and anal region with numerous 

 circular folds indistinct above and disappearing distally ; 

 a longitudinal groove runs from the anus towards the 

 extremity of the tail ; skin upon the back forming a longi- 

 tudinal ridge from the nape backwards ; limbs moderate, 

 hind ones much the stronger; inner toes longest; tail 

 round at the base, but compressed distally. 

 Length 5 inches. Head to gular fold S/q inch. 



Tail 1% " Breadth of head % " 



Habitat United States east of the Rocky Mountains. 

 Common. 



The Red Salamander is found under stones in shallow 

 water and marshes. When discovered in the former 

 they seem to be alarmed, and endeavor to get away, but 

 in the latter situation show no disposition to stir. They 

 are apparently nocturnal animals, remaining in conceal- 

 ment during the day, and at night sallying forth in search 

 of prey. Their food is mainly small worms, though Hal- 

 lowell found in the stomach of one a coleopterous in- 

 sect, and the tail and posterior limbs of a Salamander, 

 probably Plethodon niger, and they are themselves de- 

 voured by the American Bittern, and doubtless many 

 other animals in like manner prey upon them. In con- 



